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I'm looking to finally get a rangefinder this season, but I'm having trouble deciding between a watch-type, handheld gps or laser. Phone apps don't seem to work well out here, as both 18birdies and gamegolf frequently lose signal and don't give me data unless I walk around for several minutes.

 

I'd be using it recreationally, but also for tournaments, so slope isn't a consideration, since I'll probably never use it.

 

Ideally I'd like something that you can easily check yardages to FMB of the green and hazard position/distance, so I'm leaning towards laser or handheld more than watch because of information display.

 

I guess the bottom line is whether the accuracy, access speed and ability of the gps to show cutoff distances on dogleg holes outweighs the versatility of the laser on the course and driving range.

 

If you want to provide specific models, go ahead, but really just painting with broad strokes here. Nobody I know had one, so I haven't been able to try one out on the course yet.

 

Thanks for your input.

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I'm looking to finally get a rangefinder this season, but I'm having trouble deciding between a watch-type, handheld gps or laser. Phone apps don't seem to work well out here, as both 18birdies and gamegolf frequently lose signal and don't give me data unless I walk around for several minutes.

 

I'd be using it recreationally, but also for tournaments, so slope isn't a consideration, since I'll probably never use it.

 

Ideally I'd like something that you can easily check yardages to FMB of the green and hazard position/distance, so I'm leaning towards laser or handheld more than watch because of information display.

 

I guess the bottom line is whether the accuracy, access speed and ability of the gps to show cutoff distances on dogleg holes outweighs the versatility of the laser on the course and driving range.

 

If you want to provide specific models, go ahead, but really just painting with broad strokes here. Nobody I know had one, so I haven't been able to try one out on the course yet.

 

Thanks for your input.

Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder.

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“Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder.”

 

+1 to this. It’s hard to find a decent laser with “jolt” for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

 

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I'm looking to finally get a rangefinder this season, but I'm having trouble deciding between a watch-type, handheld gps or laser. Phone apps don't seem to work well out here, as both 18birdies and gamegolf frequently lose signal and don't give me data unless I walk around for several minutes.

 

I'd be using it recreationally, but also for tournaments, so slope isn't a consideration, since I'll probably never use it.

 

Ideally I'd like something that you can easily check yardages to FMB of the green and hazard position/distance, so I'm leaning towards laser or handheld more than watch because of information display.

 

I guess the bottom line is whether the accuracy, access speed and ability of the gps to show cutoff distances on dogleg holes outweighs the versatility of the laser on the course and driving range.

 

If you want to provide specific models, go ahead, but really just painting with broad strokes here. Nobody I know had one, so I haven't been able to try one out on the course yet.

 

Thanks for your input.

I’ve got a Bushnell Tour V3. I really like it. Of course it easy to shoot pins on the course and use on the range, but it’s a lot easier to hit other targets (bunkers, spots to layup to) than I thought it’d be. My dad has the V4 and I honestly don’t like it as much. It doesn’t has as much magnification and it’s harder to hold up to your eye without your eyelashes getting in the way. A lot of the guys I play tournaments with still have the V3, or even the V2. As far as Bushnell goes, those two seem to still be the most popular that I see. When I first got mine I kinda felt like the first time I got a phone. At first I didn’t think it was gonna be a big deal, but now I can’t imagine having to go without it.
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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

Driver: PXG 0811X Gen4 @ 10.5* w/Tour AD VR-6 S

Fairway: PXG 0341 X GEN4 @ 15* w/PX Evenflow Riptide CB 60g
Fairway: Callaway Mavrik @ 18* w/PX Evenflow Riptide 60g
Irons: PXG 0311 Gen4 Xtreme Dark Combination Set: 5-7 Gen4 XP; 8-GW Gen4 P w/SteelFiber 95
Wedges: Cleveland RTX Black Satin 50*  54*  58*

Putter: PXG Bat Attack-HS @ 35.5"
Ball: Wilson Staff Model

 

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I have a Leupold. The reason I went with them over Bushnell is their outstanding customer service, plus they make a very good product. I have heard/read iffy things about Bushnell's customer service.

 

For example, my rangefinder went kaput, I contacted Leupold and they said to send it in. The item was out of warranty. A few weeks later I get a brand new, latest model rangefinder at no charge.

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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

 

You're correct that it doesn't. I think the extra $50 (especially when you're getting $20 off) is worth it though. The slope mode is easy to turn off, though I do wish that it had something visible from the outside to show it's off (like either a physical up/down switch ala the far more expensive X2 or a front-end cap).

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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

 

You're correct that it doesn't. I think the extra $50 (especially when you're getting $20 off) is worth it though. The slope mode is easy to turn off, though I do wish that it had something visible from the outside to show it's off (like either a physical up/down switch ala the far more expensive X2 or a front-end cap).

 

I can live without the slope (at least I have up until now), but I like the Jolt feature. It is the only thing holding me back from ordering the "non-pro" model. I am now down to the V4 Slope or the PP NX7Pro model. The V4 seems to have higher magnification and less problem finding the pin when it is partially obstructed (uphill). The V4 will cost me about $40 more, so that is also a factor. Thanks for your help.

Driver: PXG 0811X Gen4 @ 10.5* w/Tour AD VR-6 S

Fairway: PXG 0341 X GEN4 @ 15* w/PX Evenflow Riptide CB 60g
Fairway: Callaway Mavrik @ 18* w/PX Evenflow Riptide 60g
Irons: PXG 0311 Gen4 Xtreme Dark Combination Set: 5-7 Gen4 XP; 8-GW Gen4 P w/SteelFiber 95
Wedges: Cleveland RTX Black Satin 50*  54*  58*

Putter: PXG Bat Attack-HS @ 35.5"
Ball: Wilson Staff Model

 

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A couple of facts to consider"

- All lasers are accurate...some claim accuracy to +/-.5 yards, +/- 1yard. +/- 2 yards...they are all accurate enough for golf

- All GPS units are the same relative accuracy as each other...the difference in accuracy comes from the source they used to derive coordinates...some actually walk the course, some use mapping programs similar to Google Earth. The ones that use the mapping programs will have more courses available because it is less time consuming.

- I've found the watches are the fastest and give the most basic info...FMB and maybe one or two hazards or doglegs per hole.

- The handheld GPS units tend to offer more options, like a map layout of the hole where you can designate points to get yardages to/from

- Lasers offer the ability to find a precise distance to any object...as long as you can see it and as long as it has some amount of reflectivity

I use a watch and a laser. The watch for quick distances that are usually good enough and a laser when I need to be precise...a Bushnell NEO watch and a Callaway LR 550 laser

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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

.

 

Actually, the PP “Nexus” model does NOT have “pulse” (ie, jolt); the regular NX7 DOES have pulse, and the NX7 Pro has pulse PLUS slope. The regular NX7 at $199, less $20 off, for a rangefinder with jolt is an excellant value.

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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

 

Our NX7 model does indeed have the Pulse technology that alerts you for when you hit the target. (When it first launched, it didn't have that feature, but we added it to the NX7 last June.) The NX7 Pro is our rangefinder with Slope technology to show you how far it plays. As others have mentioned, we do have a $20 discount for this form. Just use discount code GOLFWRX.

 

Please let us know if you have any other questions!

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  • 3 weeks later...

Didn't want to start a new thread...so may be a slightly OT question.

 

Is there any technology that embeds some kind of chip into the flagstick that lets you zone in on it without using a rangefinder...so that you get an exact distance to the pin? So maybe an App on your phone that can measure the distance from your phone to the chip in the flagstick?

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I have a Leupold. The reason I went with them over Bushnell is their outstanding customer service, plus they make a very good product. I have heard/read iffy things about Bushnell's customer service.

 

For example, my rangefinder went kaput, I contacted Leupold and they said to send it in. The item was out of warranty. A few weeks later I get a brand new, latest model rangefinder at no charge.

 

Unfortunately, that was not my experience. My Leupold was out of warranty and they said that all they could do was offer me a voucher for 60% off of list for a new Leupold, which is not a bad deal,but unfortunately, none of their golf rangefinders are currently in stock. After working out the numbers, it's actually cheaper for me to send my current rangefinder into Bushnell's trade-in program and take the ~$50 and get a Bushnell V4 from RBG.

Cobra F8+ Diamana Blue S
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Miura 59°

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"Precision pro is having a 20$ off sale today with code "tiger". You can't go wrong with their products as far as a laser rangefinder."

 

+1 to this. It's hard to find a decent laser with "jolt" for under $200, and the NX7 is better than just decent. Excellant product. I assume the NX7 Pro with slope is just as excellant.

 

The "regular" NX7 doesn't have jolt from what I read on their site. The Pro model does. Is that correct?

 

Our NX7 model does indeed have the Pulse technology that alerts you for when you hit the target. (When it first launched, it didn't have that feature, but we added it to the NX7 last June.) The NX7 Pro is our rangefinder with Slope technology to show you how far it plays. As others have mentioned, we do have a $20 discount for this form. Just use discount code GOLFWRX.

 

Please let us know if you have any other questions!

 

Switching from my Quickshot Laserlink rangefinder to the NX7 Pro. Just bought it and I am really looking forward to not being frustrated with cloudy/broken/missing prisms on flagsticks. Thanks for the discount code and all the good reviews!

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Didn't want to start a new thread...so may be a slightly OT question.

 

Is there any technology that embeds some kind of chip into the flagstick that lets you zone in on it without using a rangefinder...so that you get an exact distance to the pin? So maybe an App on your phone that can measure the distance from your phone to the chip in the flagstick?

That would be great but hasn’t been done yet, as far as I know. But rangefinders nowadays are pretty good at catching the flag. Even if it takes 10 seconds, I‘m fine with this. My Breaking 80 IS400 doesn’t have vibration, but it works great. You can slowly scan the area behind the flag and sweep over the flagstick and it shows the distance perfectly. Only works when there’s trees/obstacles behind the green, obviously. Desert courses are not their preferred environment.

 

It’s important to pick your spots during a round to use it, so you don’t annoy the other players by including the measurement in your pre shot routine. That’s tricky sometimes. But I wouldn’t go without one anymore. Today I hit an 8 iron to 3 feet. Looking at my shot, I had decided on a 9 but after measuring I stood corrected. Feels like cheating!

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  • 1 year later...

I don't see it listed here, but the skycaddie SX500 has been great. If your course has pin zones, you can select the zone they are using that day and it shows the distance to the middle of that zone by default along with the front/back distances, or you can move the pin on the touch screen anywhere you want. For the fairway and hazards, just double-tap the screen and it zooms in to show distances to bunkers/hazards or you can again just move the cursor where you want to get a number. Its far better than anything else I've used in the past.

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